Cutting apparatus.



PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907,

A. A. GARDNER.

CUTTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.2. 1906.

726]; INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VE 1 5 A ja /m W1 T/VESSES: v 1 l I Rs cc., WASHINGTON, n. c.

ALLYN A. GARDNER, OF BALTIMORE, hlARYLAND.

CUTTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed October 2,1906- Serial No. 337,148

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLYN A. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Cutting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting ice-cream bricks; and its object is to pro vide a simple device of this character which can be conveniently operated and which. will accurately cut a block of cream into a predetermined number of bricks of uniform proortions.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus, a portion thereof being shown in section; and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the block for holding the material while being out.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a portion of a table-top having suitably-disposed recesses 2 therein, in each of which is secured the lower end of a tubular standard 3, said lower end having outstanding lugs 4 to receive screws or other attaching means. The upper ends of the tubular standards are connected by a cross-bar or rod 5, which, if preferred, may consist of a section of pipe, and a screw-plug 6 is disposed in the upper end of each standard and has a knob 7 integral therewith and constituting a head. Each standard has a slot 8, formed longitudinally in the lower portion thereof, and extending through these slots are the end portions of a blade 9, the ends of which project into tubular hangers 10, which are slidably mounted within the standards 3. Pins 11 serve to connect the blade to these hangers, and coiled springs 12 are arranged within the standards and are secured at opposite ends to cross-pins 13 therein and to hooks 14 extending upward from the hangers. These hangers project through the table-top 1 and are connected by a cross member 15, from which depends an arm 16, terminating in a forwardly-extcnding treadle 17. This arm 16 reciprocates within a guide-sleeve 1S, having oppositely-extending arms 19, connected to standards 20, which have bases 21 secured by screws or in any other desired manner to the floor under the table 1. The springs 12 are su'lliciently strong to hold the blade 9 raised, and of course the treadle 17 is also supported by them. A guide-strip 22, preferably in the form of an angle-iron, is secured upon the table 1 close to the inner portion of one of the standards 2 and is provided with a vertical rib 23 directly below the slot 8. The holding block or base for the material to be out has been illustrated in Fig. 2 and consists of a single block 24, of wood or other material, in three edges of which are formed series of notches 25, 26, and 27.

Any desired number of notches may be arranged in each edge, and the notches 25 are adapted to be used with either the notches 26 or 27, so as to form a different number of bricks from one block of material, all the bricks, however, being of the same length as the distance between any two of the notches 25. In using this device the material to be cut is placed upon the block 24, after which said block is placed on the table 1. If sixty bricks are to be cut from the one block, the rib 23 is placed in the first notch 26, and the block 24 is pushed against the guidestrip 22. The knife 9 is then pulled downward by de pressing the treadle 17, which will of course tension the springs 12. These springs will promptly return the knife to raised position when the foot is removed from the treadle, whereupon the block 24 can be moved forward, so as to bring the rib into the next notch, and the operation repeated. This operation is continued until the material has been cut into ten strips by making nine cuts with the knife, one out being made each. time the rib 23 is placed in one of the notches 26. The block 24 is then removed and turned so as to bring the notches 25 in position to be successively brought into register with the rib 23, and the knife is moved downward each time the rib is placed in one of the said notches, and therefore the ten strips will each be cut into six pieces and the entire quantity subdivided into sixty bricks of uniform proportions. T o produce fewer bricks from the mass of material, the notches 27 may be used as a guide instead of the notches 26.

It will of course be understood that any desired number of notches may be used in each series, so that a predetermined number of bricks can be produced from the material upon the block 24.

I/Vhile the device has been described as especially adapted for cutting bricks of icecream, it will also be understood that the same may be used for cutting any material,

such as soap, &c.'

The device can be very readily attached to any form of table, or, if preferred, the table may accompany the cutting mechanism as a part of the complete apparatus.

It will be noticed that the apparatus is of very simple construction and can therefore be placed upon the market at comparatively slight cost. There are no parts to get out of order, and therefore the apparatus is very durable as well as efiicient.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I there fore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claim,

What is claimed is In cutting apparatus of the character described the combination with a table; of tubular standards secured thereon and having longitudinal slots therein a cutting-blade inextending below the table, said hangers being secured to the blade, a rod connection between the lower portions of the hangers, a treadle secured to said connection, a guide for the treadle, springs secured to the upper ends of the hangers and within the upper portions of the tubular standards, said springs constituting supports for the hangers and blade, a guide-strip secured upon the table adjacent one of the standards and extending under the blade, a projection upon the guide-strip in alinement with the blade, and a holding-block slidably mounted upon the table and between the hangers and having notches in one of its edges, any one of said notches being adapted to receive the projection on the guide-strip.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' ALLYN A. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

HARRY R. KELLY, ANTHONY J. WVILL. 

